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HGA Scholarship Program

In 2013 the Houston Golf Association Academic Scholarship Committee awarded a total of $120,000 to be equally divided among six grant recipients over the next four years. More than 179 applicants were previously reviewed. HGA has now awarded more than $860,000 in academic grants since 1996.

HGA scholarships are awarded based on academics and need. Golf skills play no role in the selection process. Funding comes from activities supported by the Houston Golf Association, including support from our title sponsor Shell Oil Company. Beginning in 2010 up to two "technical studies" scholarships have been awarded to students who plan to major in geo-sciences or engineering. Up to three general discipline scholarships can be awarded. One academic scholarship has been awarded to an applicant who played in a junior golf program, including, but not limited to, the HGA program. This grant is the *Randy Arnaud Memorial Scholarship, named after the late volunteer who gave countless hours to assist young people.

The finance office of the schools attended by recipients will receive $2,500 per semester or a total of $20,000 for four years to be applied toward tuition. Each student must take 12 or more credit hours per semester and maintain a 2.5 or equivalent cumulative grade point average. The history of HGA's scholarship program goes back into the 1950s and 1960s when some of the net proceeds of its PGA TOUR events were set aside for youngsters who competed in junior golf. More than 50 scholarships were awarded before the charitable mission of HGA changed to supporting other youth-development programs in 1974.

Scholarship Recipients

Currently 26 young people are attending colleges and universities with grants-in-aid from the Houston Golf Association Academic Scholarship Fund. They are:

2009: Joey Rippel-Sugar Land, TX, University of Texas-Tyler; Timothy Jenks-The Woodlands, TX, MIT

2010: Wen Chong-Alief, TX, Texas Women's University; Rayven Moore-Pasadena, Notre Dame; Vanessa Rivera-Friendswood, TX,
Cornell University; Christopher Cargill-Pasadena, TX, University of Texas-Austin; Alejandra Europa-Aldine, TX, Texas A&M University; Austin Sarabia-Houston, TX, Ouachita Baptist University

2011: Linda Okoli-Cypress, TX, Baylor-Biology/Pre Med; Jaclyn Nguyen-Houston, TX, University of Texas-Austin/Business; Lewin Staine-Cypress, TX, University of Texas-Austin, Biology/Bio Chemistry; Kathleen Wahl-Houston, Dartmouth College/Chemistry; Chad Cooper-Montgomery, TX, Texas A&M University-Mechanical Engineering; Damaris Palacious-Aldine, TX, Texas A&M University-Biomedical Sciences

2012: Varun Bora-Katy, TX, University of Texas-Austin, Biomedical Engineering; Michael Charron-Spring, TX, University of Texas-Austin/Mechanical Engineering (Randy Arnaud Scholarship recipient); Michael Duncan-Richmond, TX, Duke University/Mechanical Engineering and Economics with a Finance Concentration; Annalissa Garcia-La Porte, TX, Texas A&M University/Kinesiology; Kristen Pownell-Sugar Land, TX, Stanford University/Chemical Engineering; Jonathan Viernes-Galveston, TX, University of Texas-Austin/Biomedical Engineering

2013: Lucas Bazemore-Houston, TX, Texas A&M Univesity, Petroleum Engineering; Zachary Bell-Richmond, TX, University of Texas-Dallas, School of Management - Accounting; Melissa Gerhart-Baytown, TX, Texas A&M University, Busines and Accounting; Sirena Gutierrez-Baytown, TX, University of Texas-Austin, Biomedical Engineering; Syndie Hinshaw-Medina-Houston, TX, University of Texas-Austin, Radio-Television-Film; Fernando Trujano-Houston, TX, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science.

HGA Scholarship Graduates